Improvement in fire-escapes



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M.;DURAND. FIRE-ESCAPES.

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, FIRE-E-scAPEs. No.180y209.. Patented July z5, 1976.

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l o M JI 1T O @B r f A N- PETERS. PROT@LFl'l'OGRAPNlERl WASHINGTON, D C.

NTTED STATES MICHEL DURAND, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 180,209, dated July 25, 1876; application tiled October 27, 1875.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, MICHEL DURAND, of the city of Montreal, Province ot' Quebec and Dominion ot' Canada, joiner, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Escapes, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification, reference heilig had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a fire-escape; and consists in the combination of a fire-alarm apparatus and a tire-ladder in such a manner that when iire is iirst perceived in a building, any one passing, by pulling a knob-pull (called the alarm-knoh,) placed outside said building, will give the alarm to those within, and at the same time will cause a tire-escape ladder to descend from the root'. By these meansany one in danger, in whatsoever story he maybe, y

can escape by the window of his room and seize the tire-ladder without waiting for any outside aid. A similar knob is also placed inside the house for the use ofthe inmates. This apparatus can be placed in the attic ot' Frenchroofed houses; but for those having tlat roofs it can be put either on or under said roof, or even in the cornice. This fire-ladder can be ot any length, and it may have also an extra starting-step opposite the window of every story. The apparatus thus constructed is convenient, simple, and inexpensive.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus placed outside 'on a ilat root'. Fig. 2 represents the brake ot' the drum. Fig. 3 is an exterior sectional view, showing the alarm apparatus. Fig. L is an interior sectional view ot' the apparatus. Fig. 5 represents one ofthe stagings.

A is a framing bolted vt0 the attic-floor or to the root', and hearing the drum-shaft and part ofthe apparatus. B is the drum-shaft, to which the tire-ladder is linked, and on which it is coiled and kept steady bythe drum-plates. C is the tire-ladder, made with any number ot' pivoted plate-links u and rounds D. E is an inclined gangwa-y, on which the fire-ladder is placed when stationary,and on which it slides when going down. Fis a roller placed in front ot' the gangway E, to facilitate the descent ot` the tire ladder and to keep it Off the edge ot' the building-cornice. G G are guards to keep the tire-ladder from swaying. 'H H' are the drum plates or` wheels, placed at each end of the drum-'shaft B, and inside the frames A, and by which the other parts of the apparatus are made to work. l is a detent-bar, having on its outside a box-toothedrack and pawl, P, which keeps down the detent-bar I while the lire-ladder C descends. The detentbar has a tooth or projection, d, meshing in one of the drum-plates H, and a spring, c, to keep it out ot' gear 5 also, another sprin g pushing up the detent-bar, inforder to mesh its tooth d in the notch otl the drum-plate H. J is the upright ot' the rocker. which communicates, by means of wires and d umping-latches, with the alarm-bell Q. It is worked by a boss, Y, xed to the inner face of one. ot' the drum-plates H and striking its tip end. L is a brake, by means of which the descent of the tire-ladder is either accelerated or checked. The brake L is composed ot` the brake-handle m, pivoted to the frame A, and connected with the shoe q by means ot' a spring, c. p is a tooth secured to the drumhead H', for the purpose ot' acting against and releasing a pivoted link, t, which is engaged over the end of the brake-shoe'q, in order to hold the same out of action during the first revolution of the drum, so that the drum and ladder may attain sutlicient momentum to insure the descent ot' the latter before the brake isv applied. a is a rack-bar, receiving in one ot' its notches the free head of the brake-handle m, the better to brake-the drum B when the lire-ladder descends. M is the crank by which the lire-ladder is coiled around the drum. N are screwed tie-rods binding the two frames A A together. O is a guide to keep the rocker from parting from the boss Y. R are extra links and starting-steps tied to the tire-ladder by means ot' the chains S. Sacha step may be iixed to the ladder opposite a window on every story.

K is the rocker,

not wanted these stagings are stowed in the niches V V in the wall. The last round X must always be thicker than the others. W is the alarm knob or ring or pull, one or more of `whieh are placed outside the building, and

one or more inside. The wires g hof the knob are connected with the detent-bar I by means of a sucient number of dumping-latches, z' j, spiked to the walls. K shows the position of the rocker K when out of gear, the boss Y being above it. bis a coiled spring to keep lfhe alarm-bell silent. i' is a chain and pin to lock the rocker when the apparatus is placed in position, or when occasion requires it.

To make use of the apparatus, after it has been placed in position, the fire-ladder is coiled around the drum-shaft B by means ot the crank M. The last round X, and the lower part of the ladder G are placed on the inclined gangway E, and the pin r, locking down the rocker K, is withdrawn. Thus the rocker becomes free, and comes over the boss Y of the drum-plate H. The tooth ot' the detent-bar I keeps the apparatus stationary.

As soon as the presence of lire is detected, the rst person who perceives it pulls the alarm-knob W. In doing so he brings down the detent-bar I, thus unmeshing its tooth from the drum-plate H. By this simple movement the drum B becomes free and unrecls, and as the fire-ladder uncoils itself it slides on the gangway E and comes down by its own weight. Inl its descent it causes the drum-plate H to revolve, and at each revolution the boss Y raises the rocker K. The rocker then, by means of its wire and latches, rings the alarm-bell Q, which thus Warns the inmates of disaster, and awakens them if sleeping.

The descent of the lire-ladder can be accel erated or slackened, as required, by means of the brake L, fixed to the drum-plate II for that purpose. Although there is but one tooth or projection mitered to the drum-plate H', as shown in the drawings, there may be as many as required. The degree of friction of the brake L is to be regulated when the 'apparatus is placed in position. This is effected by inserting the brake-handle m in one of the notches ot' the rack-bar n. By these means the velocity` required for the steady lowering' otl the tire-ladder is regulated according to the height of the building.

When the ladder is down thestagings UU are withdrawn from their nichesV V, and the blank at the outer end is placed over the last round of the ladder to keep it taut and prevent its oscillating.

There may be as many extra starting-steps as required, and these being an easy and safe approach to the ladder, the descent can be made quickly and without risk. i

The alarmfknob can be placed in a box or other suitable place, and any one can open it and sound the alarm at any moment when it becomes necessary to do so.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In combination with the chain ladder C, the folding steps It, sustained by the short chains S.

2. In combination with the iireladder (l, suspended by the side of a building, as shown, the folding platform U, mounted in the building, and arranged to engage with the ladder,

3. The combination ot' the `drum-head H', provided with the toothp Iand the brake-shoe q, link t, and spring 0, as shown. l

4. The brake L, composed ot' the brake-handle m, the rack-bar n, the shoe q, and mortised block t, in combination with a lire-ladder, C, substantially as described. Y 5. The extra rounds or starting-steps R, the chains S S, and the connecting-chain T, in combination with a lire-ladder, C, substantially as described.

MICHEL DURAND.

Vitncsses: l JOSEPH CoURsoLLE, 4 GRGUIRE CLEMENT. 

